Nearly 40 Mountain Area women participate in the water aerobics class being offered by Swim America at Yosemite High School.

BRIAN WILKINSON/SIERRA STAR editor@sierrastar

Beating the heat and staying fit is a great combination being enjoyed by nearly 40 participants, primarily seniors, in SwimAmerica's Aqua Aerobics class held 9-10 a.m. Monday through Friday at Yosemite High School.

The class is led by second-year instructor Peggy Decker, director of the Oakhurst Boys & Girls Club.

"The ladies, and a few gentlemen, crave this class and love it," Decker said. "It's as much a coffee clutch and social event to them as it is a workout."

Decker has plenty of experience as a water aerobics instructor. Before moving to Oakhurst, she taught aqua aerobics as well as senior aqua aerobics, and special needs aquatic classes at the Santa Rosa YMCA for seven years.

"In this aqua aerobics class we do strength building, swimming moves, stretching, cardio, a little yoga and we even throw in a little can-can," Decker said. "It's an amazing exercise program for anyone with joint or muscle problems, as it's very low impact, yet you have the resistance of the water to help tone up the body.

Decker encourages all class participants, who range in age from eight to 90, to go at their own pace.

"My students don't need to do exactly what I do just what they can do comfortably," Decker said. "We use Styrofoam pool noodles and float belts, and some of the students bring other aquatic aerobics equipment and weights with them for added extra workout. I always promise to tone everyone up by the end of summer and have an awesome tan to go with it."

Arnell Pippin attended the class last year and was quick to sign-up this year. She exercises five days a week in the winter at the Fitness Zone, but cuts that back to a couple days a week when the Aqua Aerobics class starts.

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